Ladder



Patented Sept. 4, 1928 UNITED STAT-ES- JAMES W. STEVENSON, OF RIVERS-EDE, CALIFORNIA.

LADDER.

I Application filedV April 11, 1.927.. Seriall No., 182,550.

y This. invention relates to ladders and more particularly to ladders having series of flat steps or treads and folding support-V ing trames constructed of' wood.` J

An object is to provide a simple, durable and inexpensive means forconnecting the treads with the stiles of a ladder, which may be installed with vfacility;l which alords maximum rigidity andV which H) ting of boththe stile and tread. l

lAnother object is toprovide a lixture. especially designed tor steps having greater width than the stiles, which prevents splitting and breaking of the step portion pro- !"5 jecting beyond the stile.

Another object is to provide a simple hinge fixturetor connecting the elements of the folding frame with a' step, which fixture provides maximum stability between the hinged elements and prevents splitting ot' the step.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description and the appended claims.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the invention.

Figure l is a perspective view of the upper portion of a ladder embodying my improvements.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the ladder.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the ladder.

Fig. Il is a plan view ot the ladder.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional elevation taken on line m5, Fig. 3.

A designates the steps or treads, and B and C elements of the folding frame for the steps, the elements B forming the support, orstiles, for the steps and the element C forming a prop or brace to hold the stiles with the steps erect or in upright position for use.

The stiles B are constructed of wood, in the form of strips of rectangular, oblong section approximating two and one-half inches in width and one inch in thickness and of length varying according to requirements of use. f

The treads A are made of the same material and their sectional dimensions are the same as the stiles and their lengths may vary according to width of ladder desired, but for ordinary purposes I prefer to make the treads approximately twelve inches wide at the top ot' the ladder and of progressively increasing length toward the bottom, as is prevents splitcommon in ladders,y to provide a relatively broad expanse of vsupporting points of the stiles. Y y l l I prefer to make thev tolding trame Jfor the steps, which includes the stiles, as a .tri-pod, and as shown employ only a single element, which is designated C, as the prop which I' also make oi' wood, of a length substantially the same as the stiles and eta substantially square section approximating two inches.

The fir-:tures for connecting the treads with the stiles comprise bolts D, which are of substantially L-shape, the short arms ,l` of which are unthreaded,1 headless and straightl and are for extension through bores. 2v tormedv substantially vertically through and ad-v jacent each `end et the tread-s. rlhe long. arms 3 are provided with screw threads 4, are straight andv for extension through bores 5 formed'transversely throughthe stiles.

Each tread has at each of its ends a pair of the bores 2 which are adjacent the edges of the tread and each tread has a score, or groove 6 at each of its ends immediately nextthe bores. `nto the grooves I place bond wires 7 which surround the end portions of the treads and prevents splitting thereof and then insert the short arms 1 of the fixtures through the bores 2.

The :tree end of the arm l is then bent, headed or upset, or reverselybent as shown at 8 so that the bond wire is secured'in the groove at both top and bottom faces of the tread.

The arms 3 of the bolts arethen extended through the bores 5 of the Stiles, a plate9, slipped over the ends of the arms and nuts 10 turned on the arms and drawn tight against the plates. In this drawing ofthe nuts the bond wires prevent the arms 2 from tearing lengthwise through the steps and thus provide for a tight, rigid connection between the step and stile.

The top step A is, as is common, of greater width than the remaining steps to provide for its use as a support 'for articles employed by the users of the ladder, and projects at its rear end beyond rthe stiles as shown at 1l, in Figs. l and 3. The step A is secured to thestiles'in substantially the same manner as the remaining steps as by bond wires 7', bolts D, D and a plate 9', with the exception that there is interposed between the vstile and the step end a plate l2 Vhaving' a length equalling the width oi the step. The extended plate l2 provides for stil'ening the rear edge of the step Which projects beyond the stiles and serves With the plate 9 as a support for a bolt 13, Which is secured to the step as are the described bolts D, D.

To provide for maximum strength of the stiles at their eXtreme top ends, the plates 9 are bent as at 14 to overlie the front edge and as at 15 to partially overlie the rear edge of the stile. A i

The hinge fittings E for attachment lto the prop, the frameelement C, comprise metallic strapshaving foot flanges 16 for securement y to the prop, as by bolts 17, lateral' arms 18,

for extension at right angles from the prop and arms 19 for extension between the plates 9 and 12 and through which the bolts 13 are extended.

To lend rigidity to the hinge fittings E, I provide braces 2O which comprise arms 19 dverlying the arms 19 of the hinge fittings, diagonal bracenarms 21 and foot flanges 22 for fsecurement to the prop at points below the foot flanges 15 of the fittings E.

The overlapping arms 19 and 19 and the relative arrangement of the arms 18 and 21 permit the use of relatively light Weight ed toy engage the bond at both its top and i bottom faces, a plate to connect the bolts and to overlie the stile and nuts on said bolts, a second plate for location between the stile and tread, and a fixture for securement to a ladder prop hinged to said plates.

2. A ladder fixture comprising a bond for surrounding a tread adjacent an end thereof to prevent splitting; a pair of bolts of substantially L-shape for extensionthroughthe tread and through a stile, said bolts adapted to engage the bond at both its top and bottom faces;I a plate to Connect the bolts to overlie the stile, and nuts on said bolts.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 30th day of March, 1927. y

JAMES STEVENSON. 

